Netanyahu says Lebanese Christian villages sought annexation to Israel, villages deny

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon had asked to be annexed by Israel, saying they wanted protection from Hezbollah militants. He did not name the villages. Lebanese officials immediately refuted the claim. The mayor of the Christian village of Rmeish, Hanna al‑Amil, said the idea was “absolutely out of the question,” and a joint statement from fifteen Christian villages declared that no such request had been made and reaffirmed their loyalty to Lebanon and its flag. Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, maintaining a security zone up to ten kilometres inside Lebanese territory, and military chief Lieutenant‑General Eyal Zamir visited troops near Beaufort Castle, saying the army will keep operating decisively to remove threats. The statements come as the United States‑brokered cease‑fire agreement that ties Israel’s withdrawal to Hezbollah disarmament remains in force, but clashes persist along the border.